A graduate-level life coach certificate program is an ideal option for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a field such as psychology or counseling and wish to further focus their career path. This type of program builds upon the student’s existing knowledge base, teaching life coaching competencies such as conducting assessments, applying coaching strategies and using advanced cognitive theories.
The curriculum varies from one program to the next. In general, however, you may expect to examine specific topics such as the following:
- Selecting a life coaching niche and developing a professional coaching plan
- Using and interpreting client assessments
- Coaching individuals using various models and techniques
- Conducting executive coaching within an organizational setting
In addition, you can expect to explore the ethical principles and professional standards applicable to life coaching.
Do You Need a Life Coach Certification?
Life coaching is an unregulated industry, so there are no strict requirements for this career path.1 However, becoming certified provides opportunities to deepen your skill set and examine best practices in the field. If you intend to open your own practice, earning a certification may help you attract clients because doing so demonstrates your expertise and establishes your professional brand.
A number of professional organizations offer life coach certification programs. Some require extensive coursework, while others offer a quicker route to certification.
A few of your certification options are as follows:
- Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) — Certified Professional Coach (CPC) or Energy Leadership™ Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP)
- International Coaching Federation (ICF) — Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC) or Master Certified Coach (MCC)
- Transformation Academy — Life Purpose Life Coach Certification
Some certification programs offer a specific focus, such as the health-focused life coaching credential offered by the Health Coach Institute. Regardless of which certification option you choose, the prior work you will have performed in your graduate-level certificate program can help you prepare to pursue this career.